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FIRST SERVANT。 I'm not to leave this pleace。
SECOND SERVANT。 I'm sure it's no pleace of mine。
THIRD SERVANT。 Nor mine； for sartain。
DIGGORY。 Wauns； and I'm sure it canna be mine。
HARDCASTLE。 You numskulls！ and so while； like your betters； you
are quarrelling for places； the guests must be starved。 O you dunces！ I
find I must begin all over againBut don't I hear a coach drive into the
yard？ To your posts； you blockheads。 I'll go in the mean time and give
my old friend's son a hearty reception at the gate。 ＇Exit
HARDCASTLE。＇
DIGGORY。 By the elevens； my pleace is gone quite out of my head。
ROGER。 I know that my pleace is to be everywhere。
FIRST SERVANT。 Where the devil is mine？
SECOND SERVANT。 My pleace is to be nowhere at all； and so I'ze
go about my business。 ＇Exeunt Servants； running about as if frightened；
different ways。＇
Enter Servant with candles； showing in MARLOW and HASTINGS。
SERVANT。 Welcome； gentlemen； very welcome！ This way。
HASTINGS。 After the disappointments of the day； welcome once
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more； Charles； to the comforts of a clean room and a good fire。 Upon my
word； a very well…looking house； antique but creditable。
MARLOW。 The usual fate of a large mansion。 Having first ruined
the master by good housekeeping； it at last comes to levy contributions as
an inn。
HASTINGS。 As you say； we passengers are to be taxed to pay all
these fineries。 I have often seen a good sideboard； or a marble chimney…
piece； though not actually put in the bill； inflame a reckoning
confoundedly。
MARLOW。 Travellers； George； must pay in all places： the only
difference is； that in good inns you pay dearly for luxuries； in bad inns you
are fleeced and starved。
HASTINGS。 You have lived very much among them。 In truth； I
have been often surprised； that you who have seen so much of the world；
with your natural good sense； and your many opportunities； could never
yet acquire a requisite share of assurance。
MARLOW。 The Englishman's malady。 But tell me； George； where
could I have learned that assurance you talk of？ My life has been chiefly
spent in a college or an inn； in seclusion from that lovely part of the
creation that chiefly teach men confidence。 I don't know that I was ever
familiarly acquainted with a single modest womanexcept my mother
But among females of another class； you know
HASTINGS。 Ay； among them you are impudent enough of all
conscience。
MARLOW。 They are of US； you know。
HASTINGS。 But in the company of women of reputation I never
saw such an idiot； such a trembler； you look for all the world as if you
wanted an opportunity of stealing out of the room。 MARLOW。 Why；
man； that's because I do want to steal out of the room。 Faith； I have often
formed a resolution to break the ice； and rattle away at any rate。 But I
don't know how； a single glance from a pair of fine eyes has totally overset
my resolution。 An impudent fellow may counterfeit modesty； but I'll be
hanged if a modest man can ever counterfeit impudence。
HASTINGS。 If you could but say half the fine things to them that I
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have heard you lavish upon the bar…maid of an inn； or even a college bed…
maker
MARLOW。 Why； George； I can't say fine things to them； they freeze；
they petrify me。 They may talk of a comet； or a burning mountain； or
some such bagatelle； but； to me； a modest woman； drest out in all her
finery； is the most tremendous object of the whole creation。
HASTINGS。 Ha！ ha！ ha！ At this rate； man； how can you ever
expect to marry？
MARLOW。 Never； unless； as among kings and princes； my bride
were to be courted by proxy。 If； indeed； like an Eastern bridegroom； one
were to be introduced to a wife he never saw before； it might be endured。
But to go through all the terrors of a formal courtship； together with the
episode of aunts； grandmothers； and cousins； and at last to blurt out the
broad staring question of； Madam； will you marry me？ No； no； that's a
strain much above me； I assure you。
HASTINGS。 I pity you。 But how do you intend behaving to the
lady you are come down to visit at the request of your father？
MARLOW。 As I behave to all other ladies。 Bow very low； answer
yes or no to all her demandsBut for the rest； I don't think I shall venture
to look in her face till I see my father's again。
HASTINGS。 I'm surprised that one who is so warm a friend can be
so cool a lover。
MARLOW。 To be explicit； my dear Hastings； my chief inducement
down was to be instrumental in forwarding your happiness； not my own。
Miss Neville loves you； the family don't know you； as my friend you are
sure of a reception； and let honour do the rest。
HASTINGS。 My dear Marlow！ But I'll suppress the emotion。
Were I a wretch； meanly seeking to carry off a fortune； you should be the
last man in the world I would apply to for assistance。 But Miss Neville's
person is all I ask； and that is mine； both from her deceased father's
consent； and her own inclination。
MARLOW。 Happy man！ You have talents and art to captivate any
woman。 I'm doom'd to adore the sex； and yet to converse with the only
part of it I despise。 This stammer in my address； and this awkward
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prepossessing visage of mine； can never permit me to soar above the reach
of a milliner's 'prentice； or one of the duchesses of Drury…lane。 Pshaw！
this fellow here to interrupt us。
Enter HARDCASTLE。
HARDCASTLE。 Gentlemen； once more you are heartily welcome。
Which is Mr。 Marlow？ Sir； you are heartily welcome。 It's not my way；
you see； to receive